KAHLUA

His breath against her hide… more crawling skin- the trill of some birds around, chirping in time with the rhythm and song that nature had created- revealing everything, but the queen didn’t care anymore. Let him know, let him see, because… because she knew that if this had been Kaj here, his wing over her shoulders, the words would have been so very different. Everyone is counting on you, you have to do this, this is what is –expected- of you. Responsibility, dedication… Kaj was tireless. But tireless was not what she needed. She needed reprieve, she needed understanding. She was hot and impulsive, fire. She needed ice to cool her.

The Frostheart spoke.

Maybe he was right. She didn’t have to do this. She didn’t have to be picking leaders and deciding who got to keep this land. She didn’t have to do any of this, except… maybe she did, and maybe, as she walked across the glass wall and looked back to the land and once more felt the pain of finality- of leaving- she knew why she had to do this. For a moment the words stuck in her throat, a proclamation not daring to be spoken, but one that had to be. Because he had to know, and because she would have to say it eventually anyways. Murmuring, so only he could hear, she sealed her fate. “I have to know who I will call king and queen… my king and queen.” Furrowing her brow, she raised her head, trying as she always did to glean some understanding from Mauja’s face, where he always offered nothing. Perhaps someday she would learn how to read him.

Raising her muzzle higher then, she whispered a few more words, lipping at the point of the ear that he still held back against his head, the action almost playful… hopeful? She dared not hope too much, though. Hope had gotten her so little.

---

Silently contemplating for most of the walk, talking if others wanted and trying to be somewhat pleasant, if she could manage it, the queen was thankful when they finally arrived at the Throat, or at least the entranceway. It had changed so much since she had last been here. Hence the key, she supposed. Shooing Khan from her back, reminding him what the fire king looked like, the queen sent him off to summon the king. Lipping at the key around her neck, not really sure how it worked, she gathered a few around her and strode forward anyways, trusting that… something would happen. Something did.

Like she had wings of fire, the spotted woman was whisked over the water, the sensation similar to the one she had felt on the clouds. She was flying, yet trapped- it was not exactly freedom, and yet… It was close. When she finally landed on the other side, and when everyone had gathered once again, the queen searched for Gaucho. Her feathered blue heralded his arrival, at which Kahlua bowed her head kindly enough. It was late in the day by now, the sun dancing over the western horizon, and she was sure Gaucho was tired, so she was glad he had made time for this little endeavor. It was funny, how happy she felt now that she had admitted herself to Mauja, now that she no longer had to pretend she was going to return to the Falls with the men that she couldn’t stand to look at. It was like a weight lifted off her shoulder, and in many ways she felt free.

When all was settled, and when she had properly greeted Gaucho with a hello and how-do-you-do, officially reminding him why the group was here, the queen began. “Helovia is in a draught. Food is scarce everywhere and your herd is growing skinnier by the day. You’ve heard the Throat has some plants that are thriving in the heat and you’ve come here looking for help. Convince Gaucho to help you.” Having had time to cool off, to recover from the fact that she hated all of them, the queen found herself actually interested in what they had to say. Would they bargain or beg? Make deals? What would she have done? Closing her eyes for a minute, she thought.

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OOC| Aud said Kahlua could take herself and a couple others across the bridge with her key. So she’ll take @[Mauja], and @[Thor]. A throat NPC will take @[Arah] and @[Kiara]. @[Artorius] and @[Amaris] can fly. @[Maren] will take @[Verlaine] across on a boat, per Yewrezz. Now you all know how you got into the Throat :D Anybody else who came with can use a Throat NPC to enter via the bridge, per Aud.

@[Gaucho] first, please. You have 5 days to respond, as before.

Please PM your responses to the task to Kahlua and Gaucho, to help encourage creativity. You can sort of gloss over that part of your post.

If you are posting to this thread, you cannot post to Phi's thread, and vice-versa.

LeadeR

world's edge